NCAA News Wire
Price named Lamar coach
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Tic Price, who replaced the fired Pat Knight at Lamar on an interim basis last month, was named head coach on Tuesday.
Knight, the son of Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight, was let go in his third year at the school. The Cardinals struggled to a 7-54 record the past two seasons after Knight led the program to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2011.
“This is a great job,” Price said. “From a recruiting standpoint, we are in a great location — within a 250-mile radius you can find talented players. From an academic standpoint, Lamar can challenge any school in the country. We have some really good professors and an excellent administration. There is a sense of family here, and unless you are a part of Lamar you just won’t understand it.
“My family and I have grown to love the Beaumont area. We have met some wonderful people, are part of a wonderful church and this is a great place to live. I truly love this university. It has given me the opportunity to grow professionally as a coach and an administrator.”
Price previously was the head coach at New Orleans, Memphis and McNeese State, posting a 168-131 career record. He was 1-4 as Lamar’s interim coach after taking over from Knight.
Before coming to Lamar, Knight replaced his father as Texas Tech coach during the 2007-2008 season and in three-plus years posted a 50-61 record.
